WWAV needs funds to fight against sex registry for CANS conviction

Women With a Vision are calling for the donations to help to fight on behalf of the individuals placed on the sex offenders registry.

The recent equalization of the crime against nature by solicitation (CANS) law with the prostitution is a great victory. But the fight is far from over. The law is not retroactive, and WWAV needs funds to continue the battle in Doe v. Jindal. Please support WWAV in their effort to get all people with CANS convictions off the registry: donate! If you can't afford it, then pass the word on to someone who can! The court battle could till yield a helpful precedent for sex workers under the suit's equal protection or Eigth Amendment arguments. See the case page here: http://www.ccrjustice.org/crime-against-nature.

A message from WWAV's allies

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Women With a Vision (WWAV), on Tuesday, June 28, the Louisiana Governor signed into law a bill that will at long last equalize penalties for people charged under the state’s 205 year-old “crime against nature” statute for solicitation of oral or anal sex with those imposed under the prostitution statute. From now on, individuals convicted of “crime against nature by solicitation” (CANS) will no longer be required to register as sex offenders for periods of 15 years to life! This is a tremendous victory, and a testament to the power of dedicated and determined grassroots advocacy on the part of Deon Haywood and WWAV.

But the fight is far from over, because people with prior convictions must still fight for the removal of registry requirements, and Doe v. Jindal court support is still needed. Please take a moment to donate to WWAV in order to help reach the goal of $5,000 by July 15th to bring much needed resources to continue the fight against the ongoing effects of this harsh and discriminatory law.

As stated, the recent legislative change only eliminates the registration requirement for people convicted after August 15, 2011. It does not address the continuing injustice to women and LGBT people who are already required to register as sex offenders – some of them for life - just because a police officer or prosecutor singled them out for a charge under the CANS statute instead of the prostitution statute. As a result, Doe v. Jindal, the federal civil rights suit brought by nine anonymous plaintiffs, including some WWAV members, is still being litigated to seek removal of all individuals on the registry as a result of this discriminatory and unjust law.

Women With A Vision (WWAV) still needs your help to sustain what will be a long battle in federal court and the court of public opinion to make sure that every single person who is currently on the registry because of this archaic law is taken off and no longer required to register!

Please take a moment to donate to WWAV in order to help reach the goal of $5,000 by July 15th to bring much needed resources to continue the fight against the ongoing effects of this harsh and discriminatory law. WWAV will use these funds to respond to the calls flooding its offices in the wake of passage of the bill, and to advocate on behalf of hundreds of people who continue to be required to register as sex offenders despite this welcome change in the law. Currently, 40 percent of people on the Orleans Parish sex offender registry are there solely as a result of a CANS conviction. What can you do?

Donate to WWAV today by clicking on ChipIn above. Even $5 will make a world of difference.

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Organizing and advocacy work from the grassroots is what prompted the Doe v. Jindal lawsuit and spurred Louisiana Rep. Charmaine Marchand-Stiaes to introduce legislation to correct this injustice. This fundraiser will help those communities most impacted see this fight through to the end: poor Black women, including transgender women, and gay men who are – or are profiled as – working in the sex trades who are already on the registry as a result of a CANS conviction. Only with your help can WWAV sustain itself in the long fight to erase all of the effects of this harsh and discriminatory law.

$25-100 would provide funds needed to help women most impacted to participate in events, outreach, and advocacy.

$250 would fund the publication of outreach and advocacy materials.

$500 would fund self and community advocacy training for women most impacted.

$1,000 would provide office and operating costs to answer calls pouring in from individuals directly affected by this law who continue to have to register.

$2,500 would pay for state-wide advocacy efforts to leverage change on behalf of those already on the registry due to a conviction of crime against nature by solicitation.

$5,000 would cover costs for one part-time organizer to work with people already on the registry due to a CANS conviction to advocate for removal from the registry.

Statement of Freedom Porn

Freedom Porn supports openness and non-discrimination in the issues of sexuality. As such we oppose "the registry" on the principle; however, we do urge people to fight to limit the number of people on the sex registry list while it does not become the end goal (but rather the temporary measure to allow people to live their lives without being punished for what they are).